The live music event industry in Europe is a vibrant hub of creativity and culture, hosting diverse performances across numerous venues, from intimate clubs to massive festivals. Significant players, such as promoters, ticketing platforms, and technology companies, are key to its structure, providing services like bookings, ticket sales, and audience engagement. With an unprecedented focus on digital solutions post-pandemic, the industry is rapidly evolving to blend live experiences with online participation. Additionally, more consumers are demanding unique experiences, pressuring firms to innovate constantly. This shift is transforming the industry, making live music more accessible and exciting than ever before.


In 2024, the top investors in Europe's live music event sector are a mix of venture capital firms, private equity houses, and corporate entities. Originating from key cities like London, Paris, and Berlin, these investors exhibit varying sizes and years of establishment, with deals ranging from early-stage startups to established music festivals. Notably, investors like Index Ventures and Kima Ventures actively engage in pioneering projects, while organizations such as Arts Council England prioritize cultural enrichment. This combination of strategic investment focuses on enhancing the flourishing live music ecosystem, fostering growth amid changing consumer preferences.


Top 13 Live Music Event Investors in Europe


1. Crowdcube

  • Website: crowdcube.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: crowdcube-limited

Crowdcube is a London-based crowdfunding platform founded in 2010 that enables businesses to raise capital through equity investments. It connects startups and SMEs with potential investors, facilitating the funding process. The platform promotes diversity and inclusion within its workforce while providing investment management services to its clients. Notable transactions include Encore Musicians, which raised $787,782 in July 2023, and Wake The Tiger, which raised $995,946 in May 2022, both of which are relevant to the live music event industry. Other investments, such as Signature Brew, further demonstrate Crowdcube's engagement with businesses in the music and entertainment sectors.


2. Index Ventures

  • Website: indexventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1996
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 67
  • LinkedIn: index-ventures

Index Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 1996, based in London, England. The firm invests in innovative startups across various sectors, including technology and healthcare, providing capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs. Notably, Index Ventures has made significant investments in the live music event industry, including a seed round investment in Sofar Sounds, a platform that hosts intimate live music events in unique venues. They also participated in multiple funding rounds for Songkick, a service that helps fans track their favorite artists and discover live music events, raising a total of $23 million across Series A and C rounds. Furthermore, their investment in Viagogo, an online ticket reseller, highlights their engagement in the ticketing aspect of live music, with substantial funding rounds that support the growth of this platform. These transactions illustrate Index Ventures' commitment to supporting companies that enhance the live music experience.


3. Bmg


Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) is a corporate investor based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2005. BMG operates as a music publishing and record label company, providing services in music publishing and rights management. The company is dedicated to supporting artists and songwriters in promoting and distributing their music, ensuring they receive fair compensation. BMG has been actively acquiring significant music catalogs, including Mötley Crüe's entire recorded catalog, which encompasses nine studio albums and all live albums, and Simple Minds' key music interests, including publishing rights to over 240 songs. These acquisitions highlight BMG's commitment to enhancing its portfolio within the music industry, which can have a positive impact on live music events by ensuring that artists are well-supported and compensated for their work.


4. CTS EVENTIM AG & Co. KGaA

  • Website: eventim.de
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Bremen, Bremen, Germany
  • Founded year: 1999
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: cts-eventim-ag

CTS EVENTIM AG & Co. KGaA is a corporate investor based in Bremen, Germany, founded in 1999. The company specializes in ticketing services and event promotion, providing solutions for concerts and festivals. It operates a digital platform for ticket sales and collaborates with various promoters across multiple countries. Notably, CTS EVENTIM has made several strategic acquisitions to strengthen its position in the live music sector. These include acquiring a controlling stake in Vivo Concerti, a prominent Italian concert promoter, and a 51% stake in Vertigo, marking its entry into the Italian live entertainment market. Additionally, the acquisition of a 60% stake in D’Alessandro e Galli further solidified its presence in Italy. In 2021, CTS EVENTIM acquired a majority stake in DreamHaus GmbH, integrating it into its network of European promoters and enhancing its role in major festivals like 'Rock am Ring' and 'Rock im Park'. These transactions highlight CTS EVENTIM's commitment to the live music event industry and its strategy to expand its influence across Europe.


5. Bpifrance French Tech Accélération


Bpifrance French Tech Accélération is a venture capital investor based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2015. As a public entity and financial institution, Bpifrance supports entrepreneurs and businesses in France and internationally through various services, including direct funding and private equity investments. Notably, Bpifrance has been involved in several transactions relevant to the live music industry, such as LiveArts, which raised $1,085,415 in a seed round in May 2024, indicating a focus on live music events. Additionally, Bpifrance has invested in Groover, a music promotion platform that raised $6,933,226 in a venture round in November 2021 and $8 million in Series A funding in February 2024. Groover's mission to empower independent artists and connect them with industry professionals aligns with the live music sector, further highlighting Bpifrance's engagement in this space.


6. Superstruct Iberia


Superstruct Iberia, a corporate investor based in Madrid, Spain, is part of Superstruct Entertainment, a live entertainment company specializing in premium live music festivals and events. Founded in 2017, Superstruct has quickly established itself as a key player in the live music industry, supported by a network of collaborations within the entertainment sector. The company has made notable acquisitions, including Boiler Room, a platform known for its live music events, and Elrow, a prominent electronic music promoter, aimed at expanding their global presence. Additionally, Superstruct acquired a controlling stake in Y Not Festival, enhancing its portfolio to nine major UK festivals. They also acquired The Music Republic, a significant player in the Spanish festival scene, and invested in the Flow Festival in Finland, further solidifying their commitment to the live music event landscape.


7. Arts Council England


Arts Council England is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting creativity and culture in England. Founded in 1940, it plays a crucial role in distributing lottery funding and developing initiatives that enhance the arts sector. In 2024, Arts Council England has been involved in several significant transactions that support live music and performance arts. For instance, they provided funding to Unity Theatre to support local artists and high-quality performances, ensuring the continuation of their work amidst rising costs. Additionally, they awarded funding to Worcester Theatres for their LGBTQ+ arts programme, which included performances and events for the LGBTQ+ community, showcasing their commitment to diverse cultural expressions. These transactions highlight Arts Council England's active role in supporting live music events and related cultural activities.


8. Kima Ventures

  • Website: kimaventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 50
  • LinkedIn: kima-ventures

Kima Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, backing two startups per week with financial support and mentorship. Among their notable transactions, Kima Ventures invested in DICE, a London-based live music discovery and mobile ticketing platform, which raised $6 million in Series A funding. They also participated in the funding of Groover, a Paris-based music tech startup that raised €1.3 million to enhance its matching system and expand into foreign markets. These investments highlight Kima Ventures' engagement in the live music industry, showcasing their interest in supporting innovative companies within this space.


9. Edition Capital


Edition Capital is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2015, specializing in the leisure industry. The firm provides capital and advisory services to ambitious leisure businesses, collaborating with entrepreneurs to enhance growth and shareholder wealth. Edition Capital has a notable focus on building partnerships and offers unique access to investment opportunities within the leisure market. Among their relevant transactions, they invested in Mainstage Festivals in April 2017 and GALA Festival in January 2019, both of which are directly related to live music events. Additionally, they have supported companies like Wildkat Group and Add to Event, which also operate within the leisure and event space, further demonstrating their commitment to the live music sector.


10. Almi

  • Website: almi.se
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: almi-ab

Almi AB is a financial services company based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1994. It specializes in providing loans, risk capital, and business development support to small and medium-sized enterprises. Almi aims to enhance the growth and competitiveness of these businesses through tailored financial solutions and guidance. Notably, Almi has been involved in several transactions relevant to the live music industry, including an investment in Starmony, a Swedish music tech company that raised $3.5M to develop an app for music creation and distribution. Additionally, Almi invested in Liveside Event AB, further demonstrating its engagement in the live music sector. These transactions highlight Almi's commitment to supporting innovative companies within the music industry.


11. Ldc

  • Website: ldc.co.uk
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1981
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 15
  • LinkedIn: ldc

Lloyds Development Capital (Holdings) Limited (LDC) is a private equity firm based in London, England, specializing in providing growth capital and strategic support to mid-market businesses across various sectors. Founded in 1981, LDC is part of Lloyds Banking Group and focuses on fostering long-term partnerships to drive business success. Notably, LDC has made significant investments in the live music and events sector, including the acquisition of MAMA & Company in December 2012 for approximately $11.8 million, which is known for its involvement in live music venues and festivals. In May 2015, LDC also acquired the NEC Group for around $464.8 million, which includes the National Exhibition Centre, a major venue for live events. These transactions highlight LDC's commitment to supporting growth in the live music industry, alongside their broader investment strategy.


12. Bgf

  • Website: bgf.co.uk
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 53
  • LinkedIn: bgfinvestments

BGF Investment Management Limited is a venture capital firm based in London, UK, founded in 2011. The firm specializes in providing growth funding and value creation support to small and mid-sized businesses across the UK and Ireland. BGF focuses on addressing the funding gap in the market through minority investments and extensive support services. Notable transactions include their investment in TickX, a Manchester-based event discovery platform that raised £3m in Series A funding, which highlights BGF's commitment to the events sector. They also invested in Blue-i Event Technology, contributing £13.75 million to support the company's growth in the event technology space. These investments reflect BGF's strategic interest in the live music and events industry, alongside their broader investment portfolio.


13. LocalGlobe

  • Website: localglobe.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 15
  • LinkedIn: localglobe

LocalGlobe is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2019. The firm partners with exceptional founders and companies at various stages of growth, from pre-seed to scale-up and public markets. LocalGlobe provides venture capital funding and investment management services, focusing on supporting startups in navigating their growth challenges. Notably, they have invested in companies like Sofar Sounds, which raised funds in 2014 and is known for creating unique live music experiences, and Songkick, which raised funds in 2007 and helps users discover live music events. These investments highlight LocalGlobe's engagement in the live music sector, alongside their broader portfolio that includes technology and other startups.



Live Music Event Insights: Key Investors in Europe


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
CrowdcubeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-20020103
Index VenturesLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200199667
BmgBerlin, Berlin, Germany1001-500020050
CTS EVENTIM AG & Co. KGaABremen, Bremen, Germany1001-500019991
Bpifrance French Tech AccélérationParis, Île-De-France, France1-102015198
Superstruct IberiaMadrid, Madrid, Spain51-20020171
Arts Council EnglandManchester, England, United Kingdom (UK)501-100019403
Kima VenturesParis, Île-De-France, France1-10201050
Edition CapitalLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-5020150
AlmiStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden201-50019947
LdcLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200198115
BgfLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200201153
LocalGlobeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50201915


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